Page 34 of You're Not My King!

Nie’tr was lounging at the edge of the water, his ears lowering as I came into view, and though already intending to forgive, I could not contain the urge to make him suffer a touch.

He had put my mate in danger, after all.

“Nie’tr,” I acknowledged, voice devoid of any warmth as I waded into the spring. His answering whine was pitiful, and his gaze instantly dropping in supplication reminded me that teasing was never any fun when it was so easy. I sighed.

I was getting soft.

“Calm yourself. You are forgiven.”

His ears perked up, tail swishing behind him. “Truly?”

“Yes, but you have one chance to prove yourself.” I pinned him with a severe look, hoping he took heed. “Do not fail me again, or another will be assigned in your place.”

Nie’tr was vibrating with elation, nodding furiously. “Understood. It will not happen again. I swear it.”

He was not a bad male, or an incompetent one. He was young, easily distracted by pretty things, and had a lot to learn, but I knew he would not have disobeyed orders maliciously. In fact, I assumed my mate had a silver tongue behind those rounded teeth, so it would not have shocked me if he were responsible for talking my cousin out of his position. Nie’tr was fond of my little Earthling—that was no doubt the reason he had pleaded to be his watcher. I would have assigned Ok’tna as he was the strongest after Zae’l, but my blood-cousin, having not yet been given a task of this importance, had persuaded me in his favor. It was difficult to trust another with my most precious treasure, but I had to.

If only I could be with him all day, every day.

“Very well,” I said, scooping water in my hands to scrub my face. Nie’tr beamed, but there was strain in his expression, suggesting he had words to add. My nostrils flared. “Out with it.”

“I am sorry for not protecting your soul-companion,” he responded sincerely. “And for causing you injury.”

I appreciated his accountability, but flicked water at him, snorting at his flinch instead of revealing it. “I have forgiven. No need to keep the wound open.”

My cousin surveyed my expression and nodded, a small smirk at the corner of his lips. He cupped his hand and used it to create a wave that splashed my face, water filling my nose and mouth. I growled threateningly, though it only spurred the insolent fool on. We traded sprays and shoves, roughhousing as we had as younglings, the aim being to unsteady the other—the first to misplace their footing, the loser.

It was child’s play.

A fond memory of mine.

“Enough,” I commanded after almost going under, panting from exertion. I wiped a hand over my face and raised my chin in feigned defiance. “I am above such unseemly behavior.”

Nie’tr rolled his eyes, grin wide and playful, but he surrendered, wading off to wash his tail. With him off-guard and his back turned, I made use of my advantage, using my weight to dunk his head under the surface, cackling as he coughed and sputtered upon resurfacing.

“You cheat.”

I bared my fangs in a smug smirk, basking in my triumph. “I am not Great Leader for nothing.”

Game over, we washed in silence before Nie’tr returned to lazing on the bank while I lamented my duties and left the spring, much more relaxed than I had been for several days.

As I crossed camp, aiming for the council hut, I spotted my hoo-man sitting in a tangled fold of legs outside our den. It stalled me. He was a bizarre creature—so coy and blushing in the furs, yet he would display his flexibility for the entire clan to observe? I could not contain my amused snort. There was much still to learn of his kind. They shared none of the same customs or habits. For instance, my Roo-bin knew nothing of soul bonds, he protested the traditional, docile role bestowed upon the Great Leader’s mate, and he hid his body under too much cloth. There were nearly always coverings on his tiny feet, and whenever I tried to remove them before sleep, he would squeal and crawl away. Were they sensitive? I knew they were not grotesque, so he had no reason to be ashamed. Even if I had not witnessed them curl up in pleasure, no part of him could be anything less than endearing.

From his oversized front teeth to the bump on his nose and his tailless rump, he was perfect in every way.

His delicate toes were no different.

The baffling creature fiddled with the stick he used to make clothing. I had no love for hoo-man clothing, but it made him content, like a shield he could hide behind, while also providing other Earth creatures a similar comfort. Of course, even if his hobby had been no use at all, I would never have told him so. He normally seemed at ease with it, his nimble fingers working hard to create those intricate patterns, and I would not ruin that peace. He deserved a distraction. The little thing often fidgeted in the night, slept fitfully, and though he would ease whenever I drew him close to my chest, it pained me to see him suffer. At least this outlet appeared to level it out some.

Or it had.

He looked particularly melancholy this morn, his eyes darting around camp as if in search of company. Neither Puka nor Healer Fee-oh-nah were nearby, which was odd, but either they had not yet risen, or they were attending to their own duties. Nie’tr still lazed in the spring, but even so, I had ordered him to give the hoo-man space. I did not want another male sniffing around my mate, not when we had only cemented our bond once. Which meant Roo-bin had no one around him.

Is he lonely?

Any other day, I would not have disturbed him, only watched from afar as he went about his routine, but my heart hurt to see him so, and I decided that the unrest could wait.

I wanted to comfort my sad little hoo-man.

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